First Test, Hamilton (stumps, day one):
New Zealand 260-7 v Pakistan
Match scorecard

Rehman bowls to Williamson during an unbroken spell of 29 overs

Tim Southee and Kane Williamson shared an unbroken stand of 83 to rescue New Zealand on the opening day of the first Test against Pakistan in Hamilton.

The home side were in trouble on 177-7 despite half-centuries by Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill.

But Southee made an unbeaten 56 and 20-year-old Williamson a patient 44 not out to steer them to 260-7 at stumps.

Left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman was the leading bowler with 3-51 off 30 overs, including an unbroken 29-over spell.

"He's quite demanding. He was hard to get away, so we had to bide our time and later, when he got tired he bowled a few bad balls which the guys managed to put away," Guptill commented.

"It's a good wicket, it's quite flat and a little bit slow but you've got to work for your runs if they bowl in the right areas. So hopefully Timmy and Kane can go out and get us another 50 runs or so for a competitive-ish score," he added.

With Pakistan cricket under the microscope because of the ongoing spot-fixing inquiry in Doha involving Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir, their team began the match eager to atone for a 2-1 defeat in last month's Twenty20 contest - and to win their first overseas Test series since beating Sri Lanka almost four years ago.

And they made a positive start after winning the toss and choosing to field first when pace bowler Tanvir Ahmed had Tim McIntosh caught at slip for five in his opening over.

606: DEBATE Your verdict on the opening day's play

But McCullum (56) and Guptill (50) stablilised the innings with a 83-run partnership - although McCullum was fortunate to escape on 34 when he appeared to glove a ball from Wahab Riaz to the keeper.

With the Umpire Decision Review System not in place for the series, Pakistan were unable to ask for a referral to the third official.

McCullum hit Umar Gul over long-off for six soon after lunch and celebrated his half century by launching another over mid-wicket, but the paceman's next delivery proved his undoing as Azhar Ali held a catch at backward point.

Ross Taylor followed for six soon after when he was caught behind off Rehman and the home side then suffered another double blow.

First Jesse Ryder was unluckily run out for 22 when Guptill's drive was deflected on to the stumps as Riaz tried to field off his own bowling and Guptill then hit a full toss from Rehman straight to Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq.

Wickets continued to fall in twos as debutant Reece Young fell lbw to Rehman for 14 and New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori went second ball, trapped leg-before by Tanvir for a duck.

With 25 overs remaining in the day's play, it looked like New Zealand would be bowled out before the close but Southee struck eight boundaries in his second Test fifty and Williamson provided solid support to keep the tourists at bay.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version